Clinical Research Directory

CGM-Based Glycemic Analysis After ESI

The goal of this clinical study is to learn how blood glucose levels change after an epidural steroid injection (ESI) with dexamethasone in adults. It will specifically compare the glycemic response between patients with type 2 diabetes and those without diabetes. The main questions it aims to answer are: Does the injection cause higher or longer-lasting blood glucose elevation in diabetic patients compared to non-diabetic patients? How do the mean glucose level and Time in Range (TIR) change after the injection in both groups? Researchers will compare a Type 2 Diabetes group to a Non-Diabetes group to see the differences in glycemic fluctuations using a continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) device. Participants will: * Wear a small CGM sensor on their arm for about 15 days to monitor blood glucose levels continuously * Receive an epidural steroid injection containing 5 mg of dexamethasone on Day 3 * Visit the clinic 3 times (Day 1, Day 3, and Day 15) for sensor attachment, the injection procedure, and data collection

Immune Response During the Conservative and Minimal Invasive Treatment of Pain Caused by Lumbar Disc Herniation

Bulging of the intervertebral disc in the lumbar part of the spine is one of the most common degenerative changes of the spine in the elderly population, which causes various symptoms such as radicular pain. Possible mechanisms of radicular pain are mechanical compression of the intervertebral disc on the nerve and sterile local inflammation caused by proinflammatory factors. Depending on the degree of diagnosis, if conservative treatment is not successful, then treatment is focused on minimally invasive methods such as epidural steroid injection (ESI). The achieved neural blockade is believed to alter or interrupt nociceptive input, reflex mechanisms induced by afferent fibers, self-sustaining neuronal activity, and central neuronal activity. On the other hand, corticosteroids reduce inflammation by inhibiting pro-inflammatory mediators and causing a reversible local anesthetic effect. The aim of the research is to measure the concentrations of pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines and metallopeptidases in the serum before physical therapy, i.e. ESI, and two weeks and three months after the start of said therapies, then to examine the clinical status, intensity of pain and limitations of movement associated with pain in all three time points in order to determine the treatment outcomes after the mentioned therapies and examine the possible association of cytokine concentrations with the treatment outcomes and, last but not least, to determine the degree of the patient's psychophysical condition and quality of life before the mentioned therapies, two weeks and three months after the start of the therapies in order to examined possible associations with treatment outcomes and changes in cytokine and metallopeptidases concentrations.

The Effect of Integrated CAM Treatment in Hospitalized Patients

This study investigates the effect of hospital-based intensive non-surgical treatment in musculoskeletal patients admitted to an integrated hospital that offers both complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) and conventional medicine treatment.